Milling & Baking News - March 24, 2020 - 43

Amos R. McMullian, left, receives his plaque from Rowdy Brixey
of the Baking Hall of Fame committee.

FLOWERS FOODS

SOSLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY

2020 Baking Hall of Fame

Amos R. McMullian, left, with baking staff.

and worked to shore up the industry's involvement in political affairs.
"His great leadership helped to shape the credibility of
the baking industry in Washington," David S. Murphy,
chairman, Mother Murphy's Laboratories, Inc., said in support of Mr. McMullian's nomination to the Hall of Fame.
"He was masterful in his ability to break down complicated
issues into easily understood positions that made sense for
our industry. We should all be thankful that when Amos
spoke the industry listened."
Mr. McMullian served as chairman of the American Bakers Association and the Quality Bakers of America co-op.
He was a staunch advocate for free enterprise.
"The most illustrative example of Mr. McMullian's dedication and commitment to bettering the baking industry
was his foresight and leadership in the formation of the
American Bakers Association Political Action Committee,
known at the time as BreadPAC," said Robb MacKie, president and CEO of the ABA.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. McMullian said his
sense that the business community is under siege is as
great as ever. He called proposals for a wealth tax "economic suicide," warning that discouraging saving would
undermine investment, productivity and ultimately, the
potential for rising standards of living.
"We need to seek out political leaders
that can lead people in the right direction
because they understand the lessons from
history that government, by and large, destroys wealth and liberty no matter how
well-intended it is," he said.
To bakers, Mr. McMullian said a rapidly
changing world demands flexibility from
them to adapt to challenges that perhaps
were unimaginable not long ago.
"There is always the unexpected," he said.
"Fifty years ago, nobody was worried about
climate change. It's a big factor today. Fifty
weeks ago, nobody was worried about coroFrom left: Joanie Spencer of Sosland Publishing Company moderates a Baking Hall navirus. It's a big factor today. There's alof Fame panel that consisted of Antonio Gonzalez Navarro, Amos R. McMullian ways going to be change, and you have to be
flexible because the marketplace changes." MBN
and Gary Brodsky.

SOSLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY

were acquired while he led the company. Additionally,
Flowers moved into several new areas of business during
the time Mr. McMullian led the company, including desserts, frozen baked foods, cookies and crackers.
Even as the company expanded into new areas, Mr. McMullian remained laser focused on maintaining a competitive advantage for the company's traditional fresh baked
foods business. Mindful that bread prices in the Southeast
were among the lowest in the nation, Mr. McMullian ensured that Flowers' baking plants were highly productive.
He oversaw the incorporation of a new generation of baking
plants to help achieve the highest possible quality control
with state-of-the-art computerized equipment, well-trained
staff technicians and extremely efficient, high-technology
operations. Under his leadership, Flowers' Nature's Own
brand grew dramatically, eventually becoming the nation's
first $1 billion bread brand.
The company prospered during his 22 years as CEO. An
investor who bought $1,000 of Flowers stock at the start of
1981 saw the value of the investment, with dividends reinvested, appreciate to more than $77,000 by the end of 2003
(by comparison, $1,000 in the S&P 500 over the same period
would have grown to about $8,600).
Mr. McMullian was acutely aware of the role Washington
played in the health of baking and the business community

bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News

March 24, 2020 / 43

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Milling & Baking News - March 24, 2020

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